This a continuation of the Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part One coverage that I did for Total Film Indonesia magazine. This Daniel Radcliffe interview is part of the Deathly Hallows press junket that the magazine attended (but we weren’t allowed to publish it until last month). The rest of the Deathly Hallows cast interview can be found in the archives.

THE TOTAL FILM INTERVIEW: DANIEL RADCLIFFE

Jack Kipling. Alan Strang. Arthur Kipps. J. Pierrepont Finch. And, of course, Harry Potter. After 10 years, Daniel Radcliffe’s journey as the young wizard whose name is on the mouth of every people in the world will end in July 2011. “I actually miss Harry,” said Radcliffe of his on-screen alter ego, “like you would miss a friend who you haven’t seen for a while. I do feel the fans’ pain.”

In early March 2011, Total Film Indonesia has its eyes glued to a YouTube video of the 21-year-old Brit actor Daniel Radcliffe singing “I Believe In You”. The song, from Broadway musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, is beautiful and not only owns the song, but he should be able to own the world with it. Or, at least, should he ever feel inclined to join the reality TV show, he could really impress the judges of American Idol.

A month later, Radcliffe and his fellow How To Succeed cast performs live at The Today Show, this time singing “Brotherhood of Man”. Agile and acrobatic, Radcliffe sings and dances as if he was born for it. It is now wonder, then, that Rob Ashford’s How To Succeed gets nine Tony Awards nominations and a generally positive reviews from all corners. And surely the Harry Potter alumnus will not be begging anyone for jobs after the Warner Bros. film franchise ends its run on multiplexes.

The young actor has proven he can work in any media: he’s a live action film actor who has done TV (Extras), stage (Equus) and even animation (as the voice of Edmund, a parody of Twilight’s Edward Cullen in The Simpsons‘ “Treehouse Of Horror” episode). What next? Forming a band and releasing an album with Rupert Grint, Tom Felton and Matthew Lewis? “No. I would not be good in a band. I don’t think I particularly have a rocky kind of sounding voice.”

That’s what he said to TFI when we interviewed him last year in August in Claridge’s, London, a couple of months after the Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows shoot wrapped up. Radcliffe had waited for us with a firm handshake and a warm greeting and, like a good host, offered us a drink as we sat down. On that day, the actor who was born on 23 July 1989 did not resemble any character he has played. But despite his jeans-and-t-shirt-clad slight frame and completely fluffy hair, he still manages to exude poise, presence and professionalism.

Radcliffe may sidetrack himself and tell an unrelated story but he always remembers the original question at the moment you find yourself about to despair. Then he returns to it unprompted. His stunningly blue eyes will be focused intently on you as he answers your question. During our chat, he faltered – very slightly – only once, when he forgot the name of his ‘eldest son’, which we had to remind him of. But on the whole we found it was quite impossible not to fall at least a little bit in love with the charming Mr. Radcliffe…

Very soon all the Harry Potter fans will experience withdrawal syndrome. What do you suggest for them to be able to deal with it and how would you deal with it?
I’m fortunate because of course all my friends worked on it as well, so we sort of… we talk a lot so I don’t have to miss it too much. Because the thing I miss most is hanging out with the people. So I think I’d just maybe read the books again. That’d probably be a good thing to do. I think they might do that, anyway. I suppose, treasure it for what it was, while it lasted. It ended at the right time, I think.

In the past 24 hours, I have been spoiled by the lovely voices of two very young actors and I can’t stand it. They are just too good to be true.

The first one, I am not exactly surprised that he manages to wow me. He is, after all, a tried and true performer who sings for one of the most watched high school musical series in the world. And he already won a Golden Globe, so you know he can and does sing beautifully. He can do show tunes and Lady Gaga with so much ease. He’d even tackled on a legendary Beatles song and owned that song. And we have all agreed that his moves in a cover of Madonna song is sexy and hot as all hell. Except that lately he hasn’t been singing in the show. And I – like many of his fans – miss hearing him serenade his audience on-screen. Instead, they are giving all the songs to his so-called ‘love interest’ in that show who, while having a marvelous voice, is still not as divine a singer as this guy is.

His voice is BEAUTIFUL. Enough said. Listen for yourself. You’ll see what I mean.

Now the second guy… it came as a surprise to me what a wonderful singer he is because he’s definitely not known for his singing skills! He is best known for playing a bespectacled boy wizard in one of the most successful movie franchises oin this history of cinema. He is also known for shedding his clothes on stage a few years ago. He is one of the best young actors the United Kingdom has produced in the last decade. But he is NOT known for being a bloody good singer or dancer. So when I heard that he can and does sing extremely well in his newest Broadway musical, I am just blown away.

Marvelous voice, especially in I Believe In You. And I hear he’s dancing beautifully, too. Do you hear that? That’s me swooning.

I envy them. So much. They are young, talented, successful, handsome and… did I mention young? They are under 25 and they are already accomplishing so much. And I have a feeling they will only get better as they get older.

Now may I make a little bit of ‘proposition’? Can we bring Daniel Radcliffe to Glee? I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of having him on the show – especially after Kevin McHale and some of the Glee cast made a huge deal about watching Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 last November. I think, if any, Daniel should play Kurt Hummel’s love interest (I mean, if you want to have a guy who has played Harry Potter somewhere to play Kurt’s potential boyfriend, you might as well cast the ORIGINAL one).

Now imagine them singing together.

Are you imagining it?

How explosive would they be together, joined in harmony? I, for one, will be having days of FANTASTIC GOOD NIGHT DREAMS if that ever happens.

Now if you’ll excuse me… I will be sitting here and putting both of their songs on loop. For, oh, I don’t know… forever?